Apparatus for transferring a bundle of paper from a paper pile on a table lifter onto a table

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to be used in transferring a bundle of paper from a paper pile on a table lifter or the like onto a table in the subsequent step. Upon detecting undulation in the top surface of the paper pile, a suitable number of detectors emit a signal indicating whether the paper bundle can be transferred or not to control the upward movement of the paper pile. Before transference, the end of the undulated paper bundle is flattened by an intermediate unit and clamped by a clamp device.

United States Patent lnventors Seiya Shibata;

Akitoshi Yamasaki; lsokazu Shimono, all of Osaka, Japan Appl. No. 886,136

Filed Dec. 18, 1969 Patented Sept. 28, 1971 Assignee Tsubakimoto Chain Manufacturing Company, Limited Osaka, Japan Priority Dec. 19, 1968, Dec. 24, 1968 Japan 43/111282 and 43/95175 APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING A BUNDLE OF PAPER FROM A PAPER PILE ON A TABLE LIFTER ONTO A TABLE 5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs US. Cl. 214/8-5 A, 2 l4/8.5 C, 214/85 SS Int. Cl B65g 59/02 [50] Field of Search 214/8.5 R, 8.5 A, 8.5 B, 8.5 C, 8.5 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,940,616 6/1960 Reed Q 2l4/8.5 SS 3,176,859 4/1965 Prager 214/85 SS Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham Attorney-Mason, Fenwick and Lawrence ABSTRACT: An apparatus to be used in transferring a bundle of paper from a paper pile on a table lifter or the like onto a table in the subsequent step. Upon detecting undulation in the top surface of the paper pile, a suitable number of detectors emit a signal indicating whether the paper bundle can be transferred or not to control the upward movement of the paper pile. Before transference, the end of the undulated paper bundle is flattened by an intermediate unit and clamped by a clamp device.

PATENTEUSEPZBIQYI 3508,74?

SHEET 1 or 5 FIG! hide/619 g 5- Invent r I A SE\YASHIBATA,AKITO5NI AmAsm -1SOKAZU Smmcmo A ttorncys PATENTEU SEP28197| 3, 6 O8 747 SHEET 3 0r 5 A llorncy;

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING A BUNDLE OF PAPER FROM A PAPER PILE ON A TABLE LIFTER ONTO A TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a bundle of paper and more particularly an apparatus for successively transferring a bundle of a suitable number of paper sheets from a pile of paper on an elevating platform such as a table lifter onto a table, for example, of an automatic-packaging machine. In accordance with the invention, the undulation of the paper bundle is detected to indicate whether the paper bundle can be transferred or not and the undulated bundle of paper is flattened before transference to the table. The paper bundle is then clamped by clamp means, by which the paper is transported to the predetermined position on the table.

ln the case where sheets of paper are piled up high on a table lifter or the like, there arises a marked undulation in the top portion of the pile due to the wave of respective sheets of paper, uneven clearances among respective sheets owing to the presence of air and varying thicknesses of the sheets attributable to the manufacturing process or to the moisture content of paper (which is high at a peripheral portion of paper, hence paper swells up at a marginal portion). Accordingly, in transferring bundles of a suitable number of paper sheets successively from the upper layer of the paper pile onto another table, it is required that, in the marginal portion of the paper bundle facing the edge of the table, the lowermost portion be lifted at least to the same level as the table or to a higher position. However, if the paper bundle is elevated to a very high position, there arises a difficulty that clamping procedure by the clamp means for transporting the paper bundle to the desired position on the table cannot be satisfactorily carried out, or transference is hindered by various devices arranged on the table. On the other hand, if the marginal portion of the paper bundle to be clamped still remains undulated, various objections will be encountered when it is grasped by the clamp means, with the result that clamping operation may no longer be possible.

The present invention has eliminated these drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic-detecting means adapted to detect the undulation of the top surface of a paper pile, particularly of the top surface in the portion of paper pile which is most proximate to the table onto which a bundle of paper is to be transferred so as to determine whether the paper bundle can be transferred off the paper pile onto the table.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the automatic detecting means described which is adapted to control the upward movement of a table lifter or the like and which can be retracted automatically when the paper bundle is to be transferred so as not to hinder the operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for eliminating the undulation remaining in'the marginal portion of the paper bundle to thereby flatten the marginal portion so that the portion can be grasped by clamp means for transporting the paper bundle to the predetermined position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means for retaining the bundle of paper to be clamped by the above-mentioned clamp means always in the orderly piled-up state so that the paper bundle can be transferred to the predetermined position in the orderly shape.

The apparatus of the present invention for transferring a bundle of paper from a paper pile on a table lifter or the like onto a table comprises an automatic detecting means adapted to detect the level of undulation in the top surface portion close to said table of the paper pile and to emit a signal to indicate whether said table lifter should be elevated or not and whether the paper bundle is'to be transferred or not so as to control the upward movement of the paper pile, and intermediate paper bundle transfer means adapted to eliminate the undulation in the end portion of the paper bundle and flatten the end portion so as to facilitate clamping by clamp means when the paper bundle is transferred onto said table. The automatic-detecting means is provided with a suitable number of detectors positioned above an end portion of a bundle of paper on the paper pile and disposed at least in two' suitable positions, each of said detectors comprising an actuating member adapted to be pushed upward in contact with the top surface of the paper pile, a primary detecting member adapted to by actuated by said actuating member when the top surface of the paper pile reaches a predetermined level and a secondary detecting member adapted to be actuated by said actuating member when the top surface of the paper pile reaches a predetermined level higher than the actuating level of said primary detecting member, said detecting means being adapted to emit a primary detecting signal to indicate that the paper bundle can be transferred and to stop the upward movement of said table lifter when all of said primary detecting members in said detectors are actuated, said detecting means further being adapted to emit a secondary detecting signal to indicate that the paper bundle can not be transferred and to stop the upward movement of said table lifter when any one of said secondary detecting members is actuated.

If the primary detecting member in the detector is so adaptedas to be actuated when the lower surface of the paper bundle to be transferred is brought to a level higher than that of the table, the lowermost portion of the paper bundle reaches the position higher than the level of the table when all of the primary detecting members are brought into operation, hence the paper bundle can be slipped off the upper layer of the paper pile onto the table.

On the other hand, in the case where the primary detecting member of at least one of the detectors is not actuated and the secondary detecting member in one of the other detectors is actuated, one portion of the paper bundle is still below the level of the table whereas the other portions have already reached too high a position due to the undulation. ln this case it is impossible to transfer the paper bundle and there arises a need to interchange the pallet of the table lifter or the operator has to correct the undulation.

In order to prevent the actuating member of the detector to be in contact with the upper surface of the paper pile from slipping the uppermost sheet of paper of the bundle and disturbing the orderly pile of the paper bundle when the paper bundle is moved horizontally, the automatic detecting means is further provided with means for retracting the actuating members upward after the detecting means has produced the detecting signal. The retracting means comprises release levers for pushing up the actuating members of the detectors, a rod provided with the release levers and an air cylinder for driving the rod which cylinder is actuated to cause the release levers to push up the actuating levers upon the generation of the detecting signal.

Furthermore, the automatic detecting means can be moved upward or downward manually along with the retracting means. For this purpose, the detectors and retracting means are mounted on a horizontal rod which is adapted to be lowered or elevated by turning screw rods attached to the main frame. The manual elevating means for the automaticdetecting means serves to adjust the position of the automatic detecting means in accordance with the thickness of the paper bundle to be delivered onto the table. Since the detectors of the detecting means are mounted on the horizontal rod, the positions of the detectors can be adjusted as desired in the direction transverse to the paper transfer direction, the detectors thus being made adjustable to he positions corresponding to those of the highest and lowest portions of the wavy paper pile to ensure higher accuracy of detecting operation.

The intermediate transfer means to be disposed along the path of the paper bundle to be transferred is located beside the receiving end, for instance, of a wrapping table of an automatic-packaging machine or the like. The intermediate transfer means comprises a vertically movable guide plate for receiving an end portion of the paper bundle, stoppers disposed in upright position in facing relationship with the end face of the paper bundle received on said guide plate and adapted to be moved downward to retract from the path of the paper bundle simultaneously with the upward movement of said guide plate, and a connecting plate interposed between said guide plate and a table and positioned at the same level as said table, said guide plate being provided with recessed portions for receiving clamping members of clamp means, said stoppers being provided with limit switches adapted to elevate said guide plate and to retract said stoppers when brought into contact with the end of the paper bundle.

The marginal portion of the paper bundle, as it is delivered onto the guide plate, strikes the stoppers and the edges of the sheets are thereby aligned, whereupon the limit switches are actuated, with the result that the stoppers are withdrawn downward while at the same time the guide plate is moved upward. Accordingly, the marginal portion of the paper is pushed up on the guide plate and the undulated marginal portion-is flattened due to its own weight. Then the clamp means enter the recessed portions in the guide plate to grasp the paper at the marginal portion, whereupon the guide plate is lowered. The clamp means then transports the paper bundle to the predetermined position on the table and the clamp means is thereafter released. The stoppers are adapted to project upward from the guide plate when the rear end of the paper bundle passes over the stoppers.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing the entire structure of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing an embodiment of automatic detecting means;

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are side elevations in vertical section taken along the lines IV-IV, V-V and VI-VI in FIG. 3 respectively;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of in- DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus for transferring a bundle of paper in accordance with the present invention will hereinafter be described with respect to an embodiment thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pile of paper A is piled up high, for example, on a table lifter B equipped with automatic lifting means and gradually pushed upward as indicated by an arrow X. Automatic-detecting means C emits a signal upon detecting the level of the top surface of the paper pile A and controls the upward movement of the table lifter. Intermediate transfer means E is disposed between a table D of an automaticpackaging machine or the like and the table lifter B. A frame F is provided with clamp means G which is adapted to be reciprocated along the frame F horizontally as seen in the drawing. A bundle of paper A delivered onto the intermediate transfer means E is gripped by the clamp means G and transferred to the predetermined position on the table D as indicated by an arrow Y.

An embodiment of the automatic-detecting means C is shown in FIGS. 2 to 6. Each of detectors la, lb and 10 carries therein a microswitch 2 serving as a primary detecting member (hereinafter referred to as primary microswitch") and a microswitch 3 acting as a secondary detecting member (hereinafter referred to as "secondary microswitch"). Outwardly projecting from the detector is a lever 4 carrying a roller 5 rotatably mounted on its end and adapted to be placed on the top surface of the paper pile A. A cam 6 is secured to the base portion of the lever 4 and adapted for pivotal movement integrally with the lever 4, the arrangement being such that the primary microswitch 2 and secondary microswitch 3 are actuated by the peripheral cam surface.

By means of a clamp bolt 8 and a holding member 9 each of the detectors 1a, 1b and la is fixedly mounted at a desired position on a horizontal rod 7 which is disposed transversely of the path of the paper bundle A. The horizontal shaft 7 is supported by the frame F by means of a pair of vertical rods 10 in vertically movable manner. The vertical rods 10 are rotatably hung on bearings 11 secured to the frame F and operatively related with each other by means of sprockets l2 and a chain 13 so as to e driven by a handle 14. Formed at the lower end of each vertical rod 10 is a male screw 15 in screw-thread engagement with a screwed bearing 16 fixed to the horizontal rod 7. Accordingly, the rotation of the handle 14 moves the horizontal rod 7 upward or downward to adjust the level of the detectors 1a, lb and 1c.

Positioned below and parallel to the horizontal rod 7 is a release lever rod 18 which is rotatably mounted on end supports 17 secured to he opposite ends of the horizontal rod 7. Release levers 19, the same as the detectors la, lb, lc in number, are fixed to the release lever rod 18. The positions of the release levers 19 on the rod 18 can be adjusted by loosening stop screws (not shown). The release levers 19 whose ends are positioned under the levers 4 of the detectors serve to retract the levers 4 upward.

It will be seen in FIG. 5 that the release lever rod 18 is adapted for pivotal movement by an air cylinder 20 which is supported by a support member 21 fixed to the horizontal rod 7. The end of the rod 22 of the cylinder 20 is pivotally connected to the end of a crank lever 23 fixedly mounted on the release lever rod 18. Further as shown in FIG. 6, secured to the release lever rod 18 is a microswitch actuating arm 24 to be brought into contact with the actuating portion of a microswitch 25 fastened to one of the end supports 17 fixed to the horizontal rod 7. The microswitch 25 serves to turn on or off the power source for the upward movement of the table lifter of the like on which a pile of paper A is placed.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, when the rod 22 of the air cylinder 20 extends to the full extent, the release lever 19 is turned clockwise and support the lever 4 with the roller 5 at its end positioned at the level L as shown in FIG. 4 and at the same time the microswitch actuating arm 24 is also turned in the clockwise direction to actuate the microswitch 25 as seen in FIG. 6. When the rod 22 of the air cylinder 20 is retracted as indicated in an imaginary line in FIG. 5, the release lever 19 is turned counterclockwise as indicated in an imaginary line in FIG. 4 to push the lever 4 upward and the roller 5 is thereby brought upward to the level II, while the microswitch actuating arm 24 is rotated counterclockwise to turn off the microswitch 25 as shown in an imaginary line in FIG. 6.

It will be noted in FIG. 4 that when the roller 5 is positioned at the level L the primary microswitch 2 and secondary microswitch in the detector are not in operation, but when the roller 5 is elevated to the level K the cam 6 actuates the primary microswitch 2. When the roller 5 further reaches the level H, the cam 6 brings the secondary microswitch 3 into operation while keeping the primary microswitch 2 in operation. The operation signals of the respective microswitches are so arranged that when all of the primary microswitches 2 in respective detectors la, 1b and 1c are brought into operation the automatic detecting means emits a primary detecting signal and that when any one of the secondary microswitches 3 is actuated the detecting means generates a secondary signal.

In accordance with the width of a pile of the paper A to be subjected to detecting operation, the positions of the detectors 10, lb and 1c are adjusted. The higher the pile of paper, the more pronounced is the undulation of the pile but the positions of the ridges and furrows of the undulated pile do not change substantially. Once the positions of the detectors are adjusted, therefore, there is almost no need to make the adjustment of positions of the detectors. While the illustrated embodiment is provided with three detectors, the detectors may be provided only at two portions if the piles of paper are nearly unifonn in the form of undulation. However, the more detectors are employed, the higher is the accuracy of detection. Along with the position adjustment of the respective detectors 1a, lb and 1c, the positions of the release levers 19 are adjusted. Then the handle 14 is turned to adjust the primary microswitches 2 so that then may be actuated when the rollers 5 are brought to the level K which corresponds to the level of table D onto which the paper bundle A is transferred plus the thickness of the paper bundle A and tolerance required for the operation. Normally, the rollers 5 are retained at the level H by the release levers 19 and while they are in this position all of the primary microswitches 2 and secondary microswitches 3 in the detectors la, lb, 1:: are always in operation.

In response to the signal which instructs detection, the air cylinder 20 is actuated to cause the rod 22 to extend and the release lever rod 18 is rotated in the clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 4 to 6. Consequently, the release levers 19 lower the rollers 5 to the level L and turn off the secondary microswitches 3 and primary microswitches 2. Simultaneously with this movement the actuating arm 24 actuates the microswitch 25, whereupon the table lifter B starts to move upward in response to its signal instruction. As the top surface of a pile of paper A is elevated by the upward movement of the table lifter B, the rollers 5 are lifted while being permitted to roll on the paper pile A. The levers 4 are therefore brought upward. Thus marring of the uppermost paper can be avoided due to the fact that the rollers 5 are allowed to roll on the pile of paper A. In case of strong paper, the end of the lever 4 may alternatively be bent and provided with sufficiently smooth finish as in the forward end of a ski whereby marring can be precluded.

Upon the roller 5 reaching the level K, the primary microswitch 2 is actuated. If all of the primary microswitches 2 in the detectors 10, lb, are actuated, the detecting means produces a primary detecting signal which indicates that he lowermost surface of the furrows in the undulating paper bundle A on the pile A has reached a level higher than that on the table D onto which the paper bundle A is to be transferred, so that the upward movement of the table lifter B is halted by the primary detecting signal and the rod 22 of the air cylinder is retracted to cause the release levers 19 to push up the rollers 5 up to the lever H and retain them at this level. At the same time, the microswitch is turned off.

In the case where the undulation of the top surface of the paper pile A is within the range from the level K to level II, delivery of paper bundles A can be made only by repeating the operations described above.

In an instance where the undulation of the top surface of the paper pile A exceeds the range of level K to level 1-1, the secondary microswitch 3, for example, in the detector 1a or 1c is actuated before the primary microswitch 2 in detector 1b is brought into operation. If any one of the secondary microswitches 3 is actuated before any one of the primary microswitches 2 is actuated, the detecting means C generates a secondary detecting signal which immediately stops the upward movement of the table lifter B and, simultaneously with this, retracts the rod 22 of the air cylinder 20. Thus, the operator knows that the paper bundle A cannot be transferred onto the table D in this state. Inspecting the condition of the paper pile A, the operator will then determine whether or not the pallet should be interchanged or whether the paper bundle A I should be transferred by manual operation of the lifting means.

Since the level of the detectors 1a, lb, 10 can be adjusted by the handle 14 in accordance with the thickness of a pile of paper to be transferred and detection can be effected with very high accuracy, the present invention can be applied, for instance, to an apparatus for automatically transferring a bundle of paper onto other table. Furthermore the roller 5 of the detector, which causes no frictional resistance to the top surface of the paper pile, does not give rise to slippage of the uppermost sheet of paper and the piled-up sheets of paper in the bundle can therefore be retained in the original shape.

FIGS. 7 to 11 illustrate an embodiment of the intermediate means E for transferring a bundle of the paper A. As shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate transfer means comprises a stopper assembly 26, guide assembly 27, connecting plate 28 and a frame 29.

The stopper assembly 26, shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, comprises a pair of stoppers 31 each provided with a limit switch 30 and each adapted to be projected from a base level 32 (the same level as the table D) to a suitable level simultaneously with the other or to be withdrawn below the base level 32 simultaneously with the other. Each of vertical rods 33 provided with a stopper 31 is supported on two bearings 34 in vertically slidable manner. The vertical rods 33 on the right and left are connected together by a bar 35 which is adapted for upward or downward movement by an air cylinder 36. That is to say, when the rod 37 of the air cylinder 36 is projected, the stoppers 31 are projected upward from the base level 32, while when the rod 37 is retracted the stoppers 31 are also withdrawn below the base level 32.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the guide assembly 27 comprises a guide plate 41 secured to the upper face of a vertically movable frame 38 and provided with cutout portions 39 for the passage of the stoppers 31 and recessed portions 40 to receive the lower clamp seats of the clamp means G and an operating mechanism for vertical movement of the guide plate 41 whereby the plate 41 is moved up from the base level 32 to a certain level. The vertically movable frame 38 is secured to the upper ends of a pair of vertical rods 42 on the right and left which is supported on the bearings 43 fixed to the frame 29 in vertically movable manner. Each of the vertical rods 42 is provided with a roller 44 rotatably mounted on its lower end and supported on the end of an arm 47 which is secured to a drive shaft 46 horizontally supported on the frame 29 by bearings 45. The drive shaft 46 is connected to a rod 50 of an air cylinder 49 by a link arm 48 so that the drive shaft 46 is turned by the air cylinder 49. When the rod 50 projects from the air cylinder 49, the ends of the arms 47 thereby lowered as shown in FIG. 9 allow the guide plate 41 to move downward to the same level as the base level 32 as illustrated in the left half of FIG. 8, while when the rod 50 is withdrawn into the cylinder the guide plate 41 is elevated to a certain level as shown in the right half of FIG. 8 and as indicated in an imaginary line in FIG. 9.

The left half of FIG. 8 illustrates the stopper 31 projected above the base level 32 and the guide plate 41 as it is lowered to the same level as the base level 32, while the right half shows the stopper 31 retracted under the base level 32 and guide plate 41 raised above the base level 32. Needless to say, these members do not operate separately on the right and left but those on the right and left move at the same time. FIG. -8 presents leftand right-hand portions in different states merely for the convenience of illustration.

The connecting plate 28 is a flat plate with a smooth surface finish which permits a bundle of paper A to slide thereon with ease. The connecting plate 28 is fixed in position and provides a transport plane between the guide plate 41 and table D, the surface of the plate 28 being positioned at the same level as the base level 32, namely as the table D.

The undulation of the top surface of the paper pile A lifted by the upward movement of the table lifter B is detected by the automatic detecting means C and in response to a signal instructing the transfer of the paper bundle A, the paper bun- 'dle A is sent toward the table D off the upper portion of the pile A and the projecting marginal portion of the paper bundle A is allowed to rest on the guide plate 41 due to its own weight. Although the marginal portion of the paper bundle A still remains somewhat undulated due to the rigidity thereof and under the influence of the undulation in upper portion of the paper pile A as shown in FIG. 11 (a) (a'), the furrow portion is supported on the guide plate 41 while the ridge portion is positioned in balanced state with he reaction force of the paper bundle due to its rigidity counterbalanced by the weight of its own, the range of undulation thus being reduced. The sheets of paper of bundle A are brought into alignment at the side edges thereof by a guide (not shown) provided along the path of the paper bundle A, and upon striking the stoppers 31, the front edges are aligned. Thus the paper bundle is placed in the correct position on the guide plate 41. When the end face of the paper bundle A hits the stoppers 31, the limit switch 30 is actuated. The limit switches 30 in both of the stoppers 31, when actuated, actuate the air cylinder 36 to retract the stoppers 31 from the base level 32, while actuating the air cylinder 49 to push up the guide plate 41 from the base level and lift the projecting marginal portion of the paper bundle A as shown in FIG. 11 (b) (b'). When the marginal portion of the paper bundle A is brought upward to a position (which is higher than the top surface of the paper pile), the marginal portion of the paper bundle A, now relieved from the influence of the undulation in the top surface of the paper pile A, is brought into full contact with the guide plate 41 in flat form owing to its own weight (see FIG. 11 (b), (b)).

When the guide plate 41 is elevated to a predetermined level and stopped, upper and lower clamp seats 51 and 52 of the clamp means G shown in FIG. 1 are pivotally moved downward and the clamp means G is moved along the frame F toward the left as seen in FIG. 1 to allow the lower clamp seats 51 to enter the recessed portions 40 in the guide plate 41, the lower clamp seats 51 thus being disposed beneath the under face of the marginal portion of the paper bundle A. Then the upper clamp seats 52 are lowered to clamp the marginal portion of the paper bundle A. In timing relation with this clamping action, a microswitch or the like (not shown) is actuated to move the air cylinder 49 and to thereby lower the guide plate 41 to the base level 32. The marginal portion of the paper bundle A is now supported by the clamp means G as seen in FIG. 11 (c) (c').

In case where the marginal portion of a bundle of paper is clamped in this manner, the marginal portion which is in wavy form due to the undulation of the pile of paper can be made flat and retained substantially at a uniform level. As a result, the marginal portion which would otherwise be forced to bend by the clamp means is protected against damage and the pile of paper can be kept undisturbed in orderly shape. The clamp means G, grasping the marginal portion of the paper bundle, is then moved in the direction of the arrow Y in FIG. 1 and conveys the paper bundle A to the predetermined position on the table D, where the clamp is released to place the bundle in position. When the rear end of the paper bundle A passes over the stoppers 31, the air cylinder 36 is actuated in timing relationship therewith to cause the stoppers 31 to project again upward from the base level 32 as illustrated in FIG. 10.

Since the paper bundle A is clamped at the predetermined position and then transferred to the specified position, the paper bundle can be brought to the correct position all the time. By employing the present apparatus, a heavy bundle of paper weighing 30 to 100 kg. can be transferred automatically off a highly piled-up paper A. The operator has only to separate a bundle of paper from the upper layer of the pile A and move it only about mm. on the pile A toward the transfer direction. The other operations are all carried out automatically by the machine within a very short cycle time.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for transferring a bundle of paper from a paper pile on a table lifter or the like onto a table comprisin an automatic detecting means adapted to detect the level 0 undulation in the top surface of an end portion close to said table of the paper pile and to emit a signal to indicate whether said table lifter should beelevated or not and whether the paper bundle is to be transferred or not so as to control the upward movement of the paper pile, and intermediate paper bundle transfer means adapted to eliminate the undulation in the end portion of the paper bundle and flatten the end portion so as to facilitate clamping by clamp means when the paper bundle is transferred onto said table.

2. An apparatus for automatically detecting the level of a pile of paper to be moved upward by a table lifter or the like provided with a suitable number of detectors positioned above an end portion at the delivery side of a bundle of paper on the paper pile and disposed at least in two suitable positions, each of said detectors comprising an actuating member adapted to be pushed upward while in contact with the top surface of the paper pile, a primary detecting member adapted to be actuated by said actuating member when the top surface of the paper pile reaches a predetermined level and a secondary detecting member adapted to be actuated by said actuating member when the top surface of the paper pile reaches a predetermined level higher than the actuating level of said primary detecting member, said apparatus being adapted to emit a primary detecting signal to indicate that the paper bundle can be transferred and to stop the upward movement of said table lifter when all of said primary detecting members in said detectors are actuated, said apparatus further being adapted to emit a secondary detecting signal to indicate that the paper bundle cannot be transferred and to stop the upward movement of said table lifter when any one of said secondary detecting members is actuated.

3. The automatic-detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 which is provided with retracting means comprising release levers for pushing up said actuating members of said detectors, a rotatable rod fixedly provided with the same number of said release levers as said detectors and in air cylinder for driving said rotatable rod, said retracting means being adapted to push up said actuating members of said detectors upon generation of either the primary or secondary detecting signals.

4. The automatic detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 which is provided with a horizontal rod adapted to be moved upward or downward by rotating screw rods attached to a main frame and said detectors and retracting means are mounted on said horizontal rod at adjustable positions.

5. An apparatus for intermediately transferring a bundle of paper comprising a vertically movable guide plate for receiving an end portion of the paper bundle, stoppers disposed in upright position in facing relationship with the end face of the paper bundle received on said guide plate and adapted to be moved downward to retract from the path of the paper bundle simultaneously with the upward movement of said guide plate, and a connecting plate interposed between said guide plate and a table and positioned at the same level as said table, said guide plate being provided with recessed portions for receiving clamping members of clamp means, said stoppers being provided with limit switches adapted to elevate said guide plate and to retract said stoppers when brought into contact with the end of the paper bundle. 

1. An apparatus for transferring a bundle of paper from a paper pile on a table lifter or the like onto a table comprising an automatic detecting means adapted to detect the level of undulation in the top surface of an end portion close to said table of the paper pile and to emit a signal to indicate whether said table lifter should be elevated or not and whether the paper bundle is to be transferred or not so as to control the upward movement of the paper pile, and intermediate paper bundle transfer means adapted to eliminate the undulation in the end portion of the paper bundle and flatten the end portion so as to facilitate clamping by clamp means when the paper bundle is transferred onto said table.
 2. An apparatus for automatically detecting the level of a pile of paper to be moved upward by a table lifter or the like provided with a suitable number of detectors positioned above an end portion at the delivery side of a bundle of paper on the paper pile and disposed at least in two suitable positions, each of said detectors comprising an actuating member adapted tO be pushed upward while in contact with the top surface of the paper pile, a primary detecting member adapted to be actuated by said actuating member when the top surface of the paper pile reaches a predetermined level and a secondary detecting member adapted to be actuated by said actuating member when the top surface of the paper pile reaches a predetermined level higher than the actuating level of said primary detecting member, said apparatus being adapted to emit a primary detecting signal to indicate that the paper bundle can be transferred and to stop the upward movement of said table lifter when all of said primary detecting members in said detectors are actuated, said apparatus further being adapted to emit a secondary detecting signal to indicate that the paper bundle cannot be transferred and to stop the upward movement of said table lifter when any one of said secondary detecting members is actuated.
 3. The automatic-detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 which is provided with retracting means comprising release levers for pushing up said actuating members of said detectors, a rotatable rod fixedly provided with the same number of said release levers as said detectors and in air cylinder for driving said rotatable rod, said retracting means being adapted to push up said actuating members of said detectors upon generation of either the primary or secondary detecting signals.
 4. The automatic detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 which is provided with a horizontal rod adapted to be moved upward or downward by rotating screw rods attached to a main frame and said detectors and retracting means are mounted on said horizontal rod at adjustable positions.
 5. An apparatus for intermediately transferring a bundle of paper comprising a vertically movable guide plate for receiving an end portion of the paper bundle, stoppers disposed in upright position in facing relationship with the end face of the paper bundle received on said guide plate and adapted to be moved downward to retract from the path of the paper bundle simultaneously with the upward movement of said guide plate, and a connecting plate interposed between said guide plate and a table and positioned at the same level as said table, said guide plate being provided with recessed portions for receiving clamping members of clamp means, said stoppers being provided with limit switches adapted to elevate said guide plate and to retract said stoppers when brought into contact with the end of the paper bundle. 